Washington News

Democrats Eye Health Co-Ops as Health Insurance Option Compromise

With Republicans fighting the idea of a government-run health insurance plan, Obama administration officials said that they are open to a compromise: a cooperative program that would expand coverage with taxpayer money but without direct governmental control. Congress began work …

Maryland Hospital Fined after Failure to Report Errors

Maryland health officials say Doctors Community Hospital has been fined after failing to report that a patient died and at least seven others suffered serious harm as a result of mistakes by the medical staff. The 185-bed medical surgical hospital …

Former Owner of London American General Agency, Ed Maucere, Dies

Edward J. Maucere, former owner of London American General Agency Inc., a San Diego-based wholesale brokerage and underwriting manager for commercial transportation business, passed away unexpectedly on June 12, 2009, at Palomar Hospital in Escondido, Calif. Maucere’s committment to professionalism, …

Obama Defends Including Public Health Insurance Option in Reform

President Barack Obama Monday warned doctors the U.S. healthcare system was a ticking time bomb and urged them to support his overhaul plan, which includes a public insurance program that many of them view with skepticism. Obama took his healthcare …

Business Moves

The Hanover Specialty lines business will be a key growth engine in the next several years for Worcester, Mass.-based The Hanover, according to CEO Fred Eppinger. In the past year, revenue from specialty lines at The Hanover has grown from …

Supreme Court Nominee Sotomayor Shows Record of Favoring Insurers

Philadelphia-Based Insurance Attorney Finds Rulings to be ‘Very Insurer-Friendly’ The Supreme Court almost never takes up insurance related cases. Even so, President Obama’s recent Supreme Court nominee— federal appeals Judge Sonia Sotomayor — brings a long record of decisions favoring …

New Markets

The following markets were selected from the MyNewMarkets database of 25,000 coverages and programs. To find additional markets, or to submit markets, go to www.MyNewMarkets.com. Contractors General Liability Market Detail: London American Risk Specialists Inc. brings agents a commercial general …

Liberty Northwest Drops Workers’ Comp Direct Sales for Independent Agents

Liberty Mutual Group’s Agency Markets business unit announced that one of its member companies, Liberty Northwest, has sold the renewal rights for most of its direct-sold workers’ compensation policies written in Idaho, Montana and Oregon. Going forward, Liberty Northwest will …

Northeast’s ProMutual to Buy Michigan Medical Liability Insurer FinCor

Massachusetts-based medical liability insurance company Medical Professional Mutual Insurance Co., known as ProMutual, will acquire medical liability insurer and risk management company FinCor and its subsidiaries. ProMutual, a member of ProMutual Group, said it is is acquiring Lansing, Michigan, based …

Ratings Recap: AXA Art, National Interstate, ProMutual, Clearwater

A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating of “a+” of AXA Art Insurance Corporation, which is based in New York City. The outlook for both ratings is stable. “The ratings reflect …